Cops: Gambler Loses Bets, Loses Control
Susan and David had been married for 25 years when cops say he strangled her and buried her body in the backyard
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David and Susan Lam came to America to escape the adversity they faced in Vietnam. Nearly thirty years later, cops say the man she started a new life with would violently take it all away.
The Lams, both of Chinese decent, had meet in the 1970s while living in Vietnam. When times got tough in 1978, they became refugees and moved to Chicago, finally settling in Southern California.
Their new life in the Golden State looked like the pair had hit the jackpot. Over the years, David had earned a good job at a local Chinese casino and they were able to purchase a house in Rowland Heights-- a place cops say might have served as Susan's final resting place.
Investigators found two mounds of newly overturned dirt that had the distinct look of a grave site.
Dealt A Bad Hand
But the good times didn't last and soon the couple was facing serious problems surrounding David's gamblng addiction.
In 2000 and 2001, he lost large sums of money in the stock market. These losses combined with David's continuous losing streak in gambling sent the Lam's finances to ruin. He and Susan claimed bankruptcy and also lost some of their property.
Their money crisis kept on escalating although David claimed to have sworn off gambling. In the summer of 2005, he borrowed $50,000 from his brother-in-law to pay off his gambling debts. Cops say that Susan couldn't stay silent anymore and the couple began intensely heated arguments.
Unexpected Backyard Discovery
Susan and her sister had always been very close. When Susan didn't call the day after a major fight with her husband, her sister became concerned. David told her that she had left him and gone to Chicago. He also said that he was going there, too, to find her. Susan's sister and her husband were still worried, so they called law enforcement authorities to investigate.
Cops found that David had left- but not for Chicago, for Singapore and that he had committed a grisley crime.
When police searched the Lam home, they found two mounds of freshly uprooted dirt and David's mud-covered shoes. About one and a half feet down in the first pile were religious items that relate to Buddhist funeral ceremonies.
In the second pile, cops say they found Susan's remains in a trash bag.
Police say there are many clues that link David Lam to his wife's murder, such as the necktie she was strangled with and the distinct way it was tied, the bags used to dispose of her body and the masking tape used to secure the bags.
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I have noticed a large portion of problem gamblers happen to be of Asian descent. Why is this I wonder?! I hope they throw the book at this guy also.
Susan and David had been married for 25 years when cops say he strangled her and buried her body in the backyard
David and Susan Lam came to America to escape the adversity they faced in Vietnam. Nearly thirty years later, cops say the man she started a new life with would violently take it all away.
The Lams, both of Chinese decent, had meet in the 1970s while living in Vietnam. When times got tough in 1978, they became refugees and moved to Chicago, finally settling in Southern California.
Their new life in the Golden State looked like the pair had hit the jackpot. Over the years, David had earned a good job at a local Chinese casino and they were able to purchase a house in Rowland Heights-- a place cops say might have served as Susan's final resting place.
Investigators found two mounds of newly overturned dirt that had the distinct look of a grave site.
Dealt A Bad Hand
But the good times didn't last and soon the couple was facing serious problems surrounding David's gamblng addiction.
In 2000 and 2001, he lost large sums of money in the stock market. These losses combined with David's continuous losing streak in gambling sent the Lam's finances to ruin. He and Susan claimed bankruptcy and also lost some of their property.
Their money crisis kept on escalating although David claimed to have sworn off gambling. In the summer of 2005, he borrowed $50,000 from his brother-in-law to pay off his gambling debts. Cops say that Susan couldn't stay silent anymore and the couple began intensely heated arguments.
Unexpected Backyard Discovery
Susan and her sister had always been very close. When Susan didn't call the day after a major fight with her husband, her sister became concerned. David told her that she had left him and gone to Chicago. He also said that he was going there, too, to find her. Susan's sister and her husband were still worried, so they called law enforcement authorities to investigate.
Cops found that David had left- but not for Chicago, for Singapore and that he had committed a grisley crime.
When police searched the Lam home, they found two mounds of freshly uprooted dirt and David's mud-covered shoes. About one and a half feet down in the first pile were religious items that relate to Buddhist funeral ceremonies.
In the second pile, cops say they found Susan's remains in a trash bag.
Police say there are many clues that link David Lam to his wife's murder, such as the necktie she was strangled with and the distinct way it was tied, the bags used to dispose of her body and the masking tape used to secure the bags.
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I have noticed a large portion of problem gamblers happen to be of Asian descent. Why is this I wonder?! I hope they throw the book at this guy also.
yeah,..gosh where im from you can go to the local casino and always see a bunch of asian men playing huge steaks at the baccarat table,..................of course guns n roses sang the song: use to love her but i had to kill her,.........she;s buried out in the back yard,....................yada yada yada,.......................back them asian woman off me,...i aint playin,...ok ok,...but hey its still a serious thing what this gambler did!:modemman:
I've read in several books that it is not uncommon for Asians to gamble a year's salary on one roll of the dice. I can't remember exactly where the casinos are, but they have these huge gambling warehouses, and people go to risk it all. It's just a part of their culture, for some.
My take on why Asian people have gambling issues is they aren't as aware of the fact that 'gambling addiction' is a problem that needs to be address. Also alot of Asians are in denial of even having one in the first place or are somewhat relectant in coming forth about discussing their "problem" to others as they think it brings shame and humilation to them and their families.
It's always sad to hear this kind of tragedy from gambling. I can't imagine killing someone who you've been with for more than a third of your life already.
It's always sad to hear this kind of tragedy from gambling. I can't imagine killing someone who you've been with for more than a third of your life already.
i was at a chinese restaraunt last week for lunch. on the wall in the waiting area, there is a plaque called "words of wisdom". i dont remember them all but here are a few i recall:
to succeed, you must fail many times
the most important thing is family
the worst mistake is to gamble
to succeed, you must fail many times
the most important thing is family
the worst mistake is to gamble
